Maybe you’re juggling a hectic schedule and feeling a bit lost.
After a decade or more in the workforce since school, you’ve seen some ups and downs—better pay, maybe a promotion, different jobs, and possibly starting a family.
But despite your achievements, doubt creeps in. You compare yourself to others, wondering if you’ve made the right career moves. Financial worries about housing and family support weigh on you, along with concerns about job security and competition from younger colleagues.
Then again, maybe your career’s going great, and you just want to kick things up a notch and find more happiness.
Part 2 – I’m Busy and I Feel Unsettled
What’s that Feeling?
That uneasiness is anxiety, stemming from uncertainty about the future and a sense of not being in control.
We often turn to coping strategies like exercise, meditation, community involvement, or relationships to manage it. But even with these tactics, we may still feel overwhelmed and sad, affecting our sleep and focus.
Can That Feeling Harm Me?
Long-lasting feelings like these can trigger burnout and depression, which in turn can affect both mental and physical health. This can create a harmful cycle where one feeds into the other.
What Can I do?
There are 3 things that I would recommend you do:
1) Health Check:
Go for a body health check to ascertain health conditions and if necessary, embrace treatment. Try not to let a physiological condition weigh you down and cause a mental health problem.
2) Skills Check:
a. Assess your skills and pinpoint your favorites. Make sure they’re still relevant in today’s evolving industry. If you’re unsure, reach out to career advisors like SkillsFuture for guidance.
b. Skills generally fall into two categories: job-specific and generalist. Some skills can easily transfer between roles, while others may be too specialized or outdated.
c. Soft skills like communication, interpersonal relations, public speaking, leadership, listening, and critical thinking are highly transferable and crucial for climbing the career ladder.
d. Hard skills such as coding and programming languages may be less transferable, but skills like analytical thinking and project management are valuable across various roles.
3) Career Counsellor Check:
a. With or without mental health issues, talking to a well-trained Counselor can help you develop personal skills.
b. If the Counselor has been further trained in career development, he/she can customize the professional development support based on your uniqueness and the circumstances you are experiencing.
Pausing to check your health, skills and check in with a career counsellor is a solid start for career planning, helping you gain control and reduce anxiety. It might not be easy, so don’t hesitate to seek support when needed.
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